3 trades to explore between Sixers and Pacers: Domantas Sabonis & T.J. Warren
There has never been a more Spursian big man than Domantas Sabonis, who hails from international waters, who dances ballerina-like in the post, and who passes with the spirit and confidence of a point guard. He’s still just 25 years old, and while his tenure in Indiana seems destined to end, he could carve out a long and fruitful career in San Antonio.
The Sixers can, of course, help facilitate this deal by furnishing the Pacers with a new cornerstone. You guessed it, Ben Simmons. If the Pacers’ interest in Simmons is real, there are very few avenues that don’t involve a third team. No player on that roster can field a bigger return than Sabonis, but the Sixers would have little use for Sabonis next to Joel Embiid.
Philadelphia gets Derrick White and Devin Vassell from San Antonio. White would help replenish some of Simmons’ lost defense on the perimeter, while also providing some effective offense too. He has been somewhat overshadowed by Dejounte Murray this season, but White is a starting-caliber guard with a lot to prove. Vassell has been electric off the Spurs bench and, at 6-foot-5, he has enticing defensive tools. He would immediately become the heir apparent to Danny Green on the wing.
To wrap it all up, the Sixers get T.J. Warren. Again, there are red flags tied to his injuries and contract, but Warren is a 20-point-per-game scorer at his best, and could immediately elevate the Sixers’ title odds come playoff time.
This would solve the Ben Simmons problem while providing a pretty balanced return across the board. Indiana gets the “best player” in Simmons, the Spurs get another All-Star big to lead the next generation, and the Sixers fill out the depth chart rather impressively.